The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-07-19
A. " FINE ART"
Begging Considered by a Clergy
man in This Light.
A Young Man Seeking His Aunt''-A Cen
tlsmSnly Unfortunate-The Ex-Pria-
on Convict Who Had Re
Eormed"-Sound Con-
illusions.

have been the minister of a church
in the north of London for many years;
and having come from "A quiet country
parish, knew little of the tricks of the
begging trade. | had been here only
few months when a woman called on
me in state of great restitution, hay
ing walked from Chelsea without break
fast, and with only little bread the
day before. She coOlly told me she had
lived in my district four years ago, and
sat under my ministry and enjoyed it
greatly. had only said l did 10 know
her, when she interrupted me. assuring
me was mistaken: had often been in
her house, seeing her poor dear mother
when she was dying etc. was in no
danger of giving her any thing; she
made no pretension other than that of
relying on her own assurance to over
reach me.
A little more skill was displayed by
a man who called-by design, doubt
less-when / was out, and was seen by
my wife. He had been dreadfullv bit
ten in the leg by ferocious dog, was
to get into "A hospital the next day, but
had not copper for food or bed for the
night. While he spoke, by a conven-
lent arrangement of his trousers-leg
the awful wound was disclosed to view.
Ladies are always nervous NOWADAYS.
and one can easily imagine how effect
ual such trick as this must be Tho
first coin that can be got hold of is
thrust into his hand. and. with q SIGH
of relief, the possible victim of hydro
phobia is hustled ont at the door I
heard of him several days after. still
telling the same tale. but not lust ready
TO go into the hospital.
But the art in many cases reaches "a
far higher mark than this. The plot is
so constructed by the adept as to prove
inquiry to be quite unnecessary, and
difficult or impossible. One SUNDAY
evening in August. 1879. when service
was over, found young man of about
seventeen years, surrounded by several
members of the congregation. waiting
TO see me. He had arrived lust as I
was entering the pulpit. and requested
the officer to hand up TO me note.
asking me to intimate, that if a Mrs.
Mscfsrlane from Newcastle was in the
church, friend wished particularly To
see her ut the end of the service
The officer declined to give me this
note, but asked the lad To wait and see
me. He was of medium stature, sharp
and intelligent features, and, in speak
ing, used some Scotch words and pro-
nunciations. but with an English tone.
He was in a sad fix; had come from Ed
inburgh, where he was employed in a
large printing establishment to see an
aunt in Newcastle; found she had come
10 London, leaving no address, but
telling one of her neighbors that she
would attend my church He had spent
all he had with him on his railway fare.
having no doubt that he would easily
find her, and here he stood peuniless.
four hundred miles from home. Great
was the sympathy of the friends whom
l found standing around him. One old
Scotch gentleman was ready To give
him as much as would take him back
TO Edinburgh; and poor widow offered
him bed and board till next day.
took him home 10 supper. and sub
jected him to a severe examination,
having some knowledge of the Modern
Athens. | found that he knew all about
IL, could name number Of its leading
men. and especially of its ministers.
He spoke of having been connected
with the Carrubber's Close Mission.
and deported himself in every respect
as such a person should. His speech.
however, was the one difficulty l could
not get over; il was like the attempt Of
Cockney 70 speak Scotch and would
doubtless succeed with a listener who
had not lived in Scotland. He said he
had money in the savingS-hank; that
the good woman with whom he LODGED
would be ready To answer for his
honesty; and he would send whatever
was advanced To him IS soon a he got
home.
On Monday. having slept n the house
of the widow, he came 10 breakfast
with me, spoke of religious matters
fiueutly at table, and continued in all
things TO meet the demands of the most
suspicious. l got his landladv' : address.
told him 10 go down 10 the docks and
see if he could get 4 passage oheaPly in
the Carron Company steamer, and
return in the afternoon. He agreed 10
do so, snd was thankful for the Spg-
geStion. Is his trip had already cost
more than he intended 70 spend or could
Well afford. teleEraPhed To the adj
dress he had given me, but got no reply;
and he never returned. found he had
gone round 70 the poor widow and Dor
rowed small sum from her has he
passed.
Six months afterwards I saw = letter
in a newspaper warning ministers
against the arts Of this same youth, and
narrating this same tale. He was look
ing for his fugitive aunt in the churches
of the midland counties, and probably
Is still continuing the profitable pursuit.
The poor widow kept her faith in him
till this letter appeared; indeed, =
effectively had he played his part hat
even then she seemed moro inclined e
believe in him than in the writer Of that
communication.
One june morning about eleven
o'clock was told there was gentle
man in the drSwing-room 70 see me. !
found there 4 man IF about forty years.
rather under the average height, Of
fresh complexion. with red whiskovS.
neatly trimmed. and respectfully
dressed. He introduced himself in the
most polite manner; was very sorry to
trouble me; had walked up from Step
usV ahDl,f i;yn l,,;laS, had laF, his ,>,,,